JUST ADDED: 2007
RFA International Tour Review!
The 2007 RFA International Tour
was a great success! The 2007 Tour
was one of our most well-attended
trips, with 21 members and spouses participating. It gave members
the chance to learn about the chilled foods business
in Northern Italy
through visits to manufacturing
plants and
retail stores in the region.
One of this year's attendees, Tony Kunis of
Reser’s Fine Foods
was kind enough to write up an entertaining review of this
year's trip. Please click here to read his review.
Coming Soon: Click here for photos from this year's RFA Tour
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2005 RFA International Tour a Great Success!
Click here to view pictures from the 2005
International Tour!
In October 2005, 18 RFA members got to experience the advanced chilled
foods industry in Europe first-hand on the RFA International Tour.
This year’s
RFA Tour took participants to Ireland and England to visit some of
the top chilled foods manufacturers and retailers. In addition to the
valuable plant tours, the Tour offered members the opportunity to see
some of the famous sights and beautiful scenery of the UK and Ireland.
According the feedback from this year’s attendees, the Tour
was both a fun and educational trip and well worth the investment.
“The opportunity to visit peer refrigerated foods companies,
tour the factories and interact with management is always insightful
and thought provoking,” said Peter Sirgy of Reser’s Fine
Foods. “Since the time investment is substantial, the payoff
in the form of learning and usurping practical ideas that can be applied
in our operations is critical. As expected, the time commitment paid
off.”
Peter also noted that the trip provides a terrific opportunity to
interact with other RFA members. “The camaraderie amongst the
membership was apparent from the start, as the group was energized
and spirited. It made for a truly enjoyable week!”
Paul Leavy of Reser’s Fine Foods agreed. “It was a very
well organized tour with a great group of people,” he said. For
him, much of the value came from seeing the product and fresh trends.
Jim Pinter of Sandridge Food Corporation also felt the trip was a
success. “The Tour was very informative and well executed,” he
said. “I saw some great manufacturing ideas, as well as helpful
concepts regarding distribution. It was valuable in helping me visualize
all the items and techniques that others have been talking about for
a long while.”
For Jerry Shafir of Kettle Cuisine, seeing the amount of innovation
going on in thechilled foods industry was a real eye-opener. “I
was amazed at the amount of resources devoted to development in these
companies,” he explained.
“The supermarket visits really brought home the amount of innovation
going on in the chilled foods area in Ireland and the UK, and the amount
of innovation required by manufacturers over there to remain viable
entities.”
In describing the value of this trip, he noted, “The major benefit
to me was the realization that companies in our industry have to focus
on innovation and organize our companies around it, both in the foods
we make and the way we help retailers merchandise. Because of the way
we operate - perishable inputs, small batches, perishable outputs,
we can and should be able to partner with retailers and improve the
offerings available, raising the entire standard of food available
at retail over here.”
This year’s RFA Tour would not have been possible without the
help and dedication of Dennis Schwakopf and Moira Livings, who planned
and led the entire trip. Special thanks to both for all their work.in
organizing such an outstanding trip.
Interested in arranging a private International
Tour?
If
you are interested in having a private Tour of international manufacturers
and retails, please contact Terry Dougherty at the RFA Office at 770-452-0660
or by email at terry@refrigeratedfoods.org.
